People who are dealing with neuroendocrine tumors of any kind, be it PNET or carcinoid are prone to special complications that can arise during surgical procedures, even as simple as a root canal or a colonoscopy. These complications can cause the patient to go into carcinoid crisis, a very real and life threatening situation. Below are a list of recommendations that some of the NET experts tell anesthesiologists before working on NET patients.
Several of our expert doctors weigh in on their preferred protocols.
Updated 2024: Dr. Rodney Pommier
First-line octreotide was ineffective in treating carcinoid crisis, necessitating vasopressors, as many crises lasted longer than 10 minutes. Vasopressors significantly reduced crisis durations, decreased the number of crises and aborted operations, and shortened anesthesia times, indicating they should be the first-line treatment and prompting a change in treatment guidelines.
Dr. Eugene Woltering’s Protocol
Formerly heading up the Neuroendocrine Tumor program at LSU, Woltering’s multi-disciplinary team uses this protocol.
Dr. Tom O’Dorisio’s Protocol
Endocrinologist and wizard, O’Dorisio’s team at the University of Iowa follows this protocol for NET surgeries.
Dr. Rodney Pommier’s Protocol
Surgical mastermind in Portland, Dr. Pommier discusses his use and research of octreotide protocol during surgeries for neuroendocrine patients.
